Foldable beverage receptacle

ABSTRACT

A foldable insulated jacket for a beverage container is formed from the same material as that of the carton in which the beverages are sold. A plurality of the insulated jackets can be formed as a portion of the carton or as a separate item removable and separable along a perforated line. A layer of insulating material can be added to the material of the jacket to provide additional insulating properties for the jacket.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/866,665, filed Oct. 3, 2007, entitled Insulated Beverage Receptacle, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a foldable jacket or sleeve for a beverage container. The jacket can be formed from paperboard and secured to or as part of the paperboard container or case in which the beverages are normally offered for sale.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Insulated beverage container holders are well known in the art. The most popular is a sleeve made from foam which snugly surrounds a can. The foam sleeve normally covers 50% or more of the can thus insulating the can and beverage contained therein from the surrounding atmosphere. In the majority of instances the beverage is cold and the surrounding atmosphere is warm. The foam sleeve helps to keep the beverage cold during its consumption. Many companies utilize these insulated beverage holders for advertising purposes and provide them free of charge to their customers. An example of this type of insulated beverage container holder is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,015, issued to McGough. Another advantage of this type of container holder is that condensation from the beverage container is retained by the foam material of the holder and not transferred to the consumer or neighboring surfaces such as furniture.

Recently, insulated beverage container holders for bottles, in particular long neck beer bottles, have become available. These holders are usually equipped with a zipper or other fastener to secure the conforming shape of the holder around the neck of the bottle.

These prior art beverage container holders must be purchased or obtained separately from the purchase of the beverage containers. The consumer of these beverages must remember to bring these prior art container holders with them whenever they are consuming the beverages. They also must remember to bring the container holders home so they can be used again.

What is needed in the art is an insulated beverage container holder or sleeve which is supplied as part of the paperboard carton used for distribution of the beverage and does not need to be purchased separately from the beverages. Also, an insulated beverage container holder which is designed to be disposable with the package or carton in which the beverages are sold so that they do not have to be retained by the consumer for reuse.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,315, issued to Shelby discloses a collapsible beverage container holder which is formed from a single substantially rigid sheet of paperboard. The sheet is substantially rectangular and has two lateral opposite side edges. The sheet is also provided with a plurality of creases. The sheet is folded along the creases and the lateral edges are joined together to form a sleeve into which a beverage container can be placed, as illustrated in FIG. 1. A flap or bottom portion 34 is secured to sheet along the length thereof between two creases, as illustrated in FIG. 2. After the lateral edges are joined together, the free end of the bottom portion is secured to the sheet thereby forming a beverage container holder with a bottom. A layer of insulation material 62 can be bonded to the interior surface of the paperboard. This beverage container holder is designed to be used on an individual basis and not secured to other holders or beverage sales cartons.

A carton of the type in which a plurality of beverage containers are sold that can also be used as a cooler is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,863, issued to Arasim. When the carton is to be used as a cooler the beverage containers are removed from the carton. A plurality of panels which have been detachably secured to the carton are removed therefrom. Another panel formed on the side of the carton is removed thereform along three sides. The forth side remains secured to the carton. The plurality of other panels are attached to the side panel thus forming a bin with the carton, as shown in FIG. 4. The bin is then filled with ice and the beverage containers. The carton then acts as a cooler for the beverage containers. There are no individual insulated beverage container holders disclosed in this patent.

U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2003/0075549, filed by O'Brien discloses an insulated jacket for a beverage can or bottle formed from bubble film. The jacket is made from a blank that is folded along one side and the edges secured together to form a cylindrical jacket for a beverage can or bottle as shown in FIG. 3. While this reference teaches the formation of individual insulated beverage container holders, there is not teaching in the application of a plurality of these jackets secured together or attached to the carton in which the beverages are offered for sale.

Therefore what is lacking in the art is an economical insulated holder for beverage containers which is provided with or as part of the carton in which the beverage containers are sold. Also, what is lacking is a plurality of insulated beverage container holders that are secured together such that one or more holders can be utilized. Finally, an economical insulated beverage container holder that requires little storage space and readily folds into its operative shape is lacking in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A foldable insulated jacket for a beverage container is formed from the same material as that of the carton in which the beverages are sold. A plurality of the insulated jackets can be formed as a portion of the carton or as separate items removably secured to the carton. A layer of insulating material can be added to the material of the jacket to provide additional insulating properties for the jacket.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the instant invention to provide an insulating jacket for a beverage container which is foldable and formed from a portion of the paperboard container.

It is an additional objective of the instant invention to provide a plurality of foldable insulating jackets for beverage containers which are removably secured to the carton in which the beverage containers are sold.

It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide an insulating jacket for a beverage container wherein a plurality of insulating jackets are removably secured together as a portion of the paperboard carton and separated by perforations.

It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide an insulating jacket for a beverage container formed with an additional layer of an insulating material.

It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a foldable insulating jacket for a beverage container which includes securable tabs for assembly.

Still another objective of the instant invention is to provide a beverage carton having integral insulating jackets that can be processed, e.g. folded and filled, through standard packaging machinery.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an front perspective view of a carton of beverages incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the folding assembly of the insulating jacket for a beverage container;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the assembled insulating jacket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a paperboard beverage carton in an unfolded state illustrating a plurality of insulating jackets integrally formed into the sides of the carton.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Detailed embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the instant invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representation basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present instant invention in virtually and appropriately detailed structure. Like reference numerals refer to like elements in the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a carton 10 in which a plurality, normally 12, of beverages in cans are sold. Beverages are also sold in cartons which hold 6, 18, 24 and 36 containers of beverages for which the instant invention can be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention. The carton 10 includes a top 12, a bottom 14, a plurality of sides 16, 18 and a plurality of ends 20, 22. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of insulated beverage jackets 24 are incorporated into one side 16 of the carton 10. The jackets 24 are removably secured to the carton with a plurality of perforated connections 26. Other means to removably secure the jackets to the carton can also be employed such as pull tabs, etc (not shown). The jackets may also be removably secured to each other with a perforated connection 26 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The jackets are preferably formed from a single sheet of paperboard which can be folded and secured together along two longitudinal edges 30 and 32 as shown in FIGS. 2 & 3 via integrally formed tabs 31 and slots 33. Alternatively, the tabs 31 may include adhesive for attachment to an inner or outer surface of the edge 30. When the jackets are in their stored condition as part of the carton the sheet of paperboard is flat. When the jackets are in their use condition the two side portions of the sheet 42, 44 is folded upwardly about the bottom portion 40 until the edges 30 and 32 come together to form a substantially cylindrical container, a shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A bottom portion 40 is formed as a portion of the sheet of paperboard. The bottom portion covers the bottom of the beverage jacket 24 to insulate and help secure the beverage can in the jacket 24.

Referring to FIG. 4, a beverage carton 10 is shown in an unfolded flat condition illustrating the insulating jackets 24 may form various portions of the beverage carton 10. In this respect, almost any portion of the beverage carton could be formed from the insulating jackets 24. The jackets 38 may also be arranged in an alternating right side up and up side down arrangement on the carton 10 so as to conserve space, as illustrated in FIG. 4. It should also be noted that the instant invention may be utilized for bottle containers without departing from the scope of the invention. It should also be noted that while paperboard is the preferred material for the instant invention, other materials may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention.

All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A foldable insulating jacket for a beverage container comprising: a sleeve constructed and arranged to at least partially surround the beverage container; said sleeve formed from a single sheet of material; said sleeve having an upper end, a lower end and a plurality of lateral side edges, said side edges being secured together to form said sleeve; and said sleeve being detachably and integrally formed as a portion of a carton in which a plurality of said beverage containers are retained.
 2. The foldable insulating jacket of claim 1 wherein a plurality of said insulating jackets form at least one side of said carton and are detachably secured together.
 3. The foldable insulating jacket of claim 1 wherein said sheet of material is paperboard.
 4. The foldable insulating jacket of claim 1 wherein said sheet of material further includes a layer of insulating material.
 5. The foldable insulating jacket of claim 2 wherein said plurality of insulating jackets are formed as a portion of said carton in a manner that allows an individual said insulating jacket to be removed while said other insulating jackets remain secured to said carton.
 6. The foldable insulating jacket of claim 2 wherein said plurality of insulating jackets are arranged in alternatively upright and upside down positions.
 7. The foldable insulating jacket of claim 2 wherein said plurality of insulating jackets form a separate panel which is removably secured to said carton.
 8. A beverage container carton including at least one foldable insulating jacket for a beverage container comprising: a unitary sheet of paperboard material, said sheet including a plurality of panels separated by fold lines, said sheet including at least two edges trimmed so that said sheet is foldable along said fold lines to define a beverage container carton; at least one of said plurality of panels including at least one foldable sleeve constructed and arranged to at least partially surround the beverage container; said sleeve having two side portions each having a pair of lateral side edges, said side edges being securable together to form said sleeve, said sleeve being detachably and integrally formed as a portion of said carton. 